Day 1 (Guwahati - Kamakha Temple - board cruise ship at Pandu Port - Peacock Island) (-, L, D)

Arrive at Guwahati International Airport where a premium SUV/sedan awaits you. Hot towels and complimentary mineral water bottles are provided on the way to help you freshen up after your trip.
We drive to the sacred Kamakhya Temple, dedicated to the Goddess of desire, Kama Khya and a sacred site of worship for Hindu devotees.
From here, we make our way to Pandu Port to board our cruise ship. This is to be your home for the next 8 days. A traditional Assamese welcome awaits you on board followed by a gourmet lunch of local delicacies.
All gather on deck as we set sail, to take in the views of the shore from the vantage of the deck and for a chance to spot the elusive and endangered Gangetic Dolphin. The species locally called ‘susu’ is found in the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Karnaphuli- Sangu and Meghna rivers in India, Bangladesh and Nepal.
Recent WWF surveys have shown that less than 1200 individual dolphins now remain in these rivers, in comparison to schools of 4000-5000 in 1982. Deforestation, pollution and entanglement in fishnets are some of the reasons behind the serious decrease in the population of the species. WWF in collaboration with the Government of India has taken some active measures to address the issue. These include encouraging local communities not to dispose waste in rivers and banning sand mining and commercial fishing on these stretches. Here, a brief is given on safety precautions and guidelines.
Our first port of call today is the beautiful Peacock Island famous for its population of the rare Golden Langur. After spending some time exploring the island, we return to the cruise ship where you can retire to your cabins to freshen up before dinner.
This is another epicurean delight with all the trimmings and paraphernalia of a traditional feast. Enjoy a varied assortment of vegetarian and non-vegetarian treats including ‘Masoor Tenga’, the quintessential Assamese dish which is a tangy fish curry slow-cooked in a tomato-based broth. ‘Xaak aru bhaji’ is a vegetarian delight cooked with herbs and an assortment of spices.

Day 2 (Tribal village tour - Orang point - dinner on secluded beach) (B, L, D)

Rise early for an instructed session of yoga on deck. This is followed by breakfast. You can enjoy a quiet time on the deck soaking in the sun and watch the gentle waves of the river as our cruise ship makes its way towards a tribal village. We disembark at this village and take some time to interact with villagers and get a close look at the way they live.
Return to the ship for lunch. You can retire to your cabins for an afternoon siesta if you like and as you rest, our cruise ship will head towards Orang Point.
In the evening, we anchor at a secluded beach where a bonfire will be set up for you. Spend the evening sitting around the warmth of the bonfire while listening to a talk on the diverse tribal life in Assam. Enjoy a great barbeque spread and drinks before retiring to the ship for the night.

Day 3 (Silghat - visit tea estate/ jute mill - cultural evening on deck) (B, L, D)

You can rise early for a yoga/meditation session on deck or relax in the comfort of your luxurious cabins and join us directly at breakfast. Today, we anchor at Silghat post lunch.
From here, we drive to Kaliabore Tea Estate to enjoy a guided tour of the plantation and the factory and to learn about the CTC method of tea making.
How about trying your hand at tea picking? Join tea pluckers on the estate and see how deftly they choose and pick tea leaves into their trademark baskets that they carry on their backs. It’s wonderful to try it for yourself and appreciate the hard work that goes into your morning cuppa!
We also visit a co-operative Jute Mill close by. It is an interesting place to understand how the Jute fibre takes the form of very eco friendly gunny bags.
We return to our ship for a cultural evening of traditional music and dance. Assamese music echoes ancient Chinese influences and its descending scale makes it distinct from other genres of Indian music. Enjoy vibrant Bihu and Jhumur dances, popularly performed at festivals across Assam. The graceful dances, elegant Assamese ‘mekhla’ costumes and lilting melodies create a charming ambience on deck. This is followed by dinner after which you can retire to your cabins for an early night.

Day 4 (Elephant safari in Kaziranga - Biswanath Ghat) (B, L, D)

Today, we get an early start and drive to Kaziranga National Park. A UNESCO certified World Heritage site, Kaziranga is home to the endangered One-Horned Rhino exclusive to this part of the country, in addition to 180 species of wild animals including elephants, deer, tigers and as many varieties of birds.
We set off on an elephant-back safari in the Kohora Mihimukh Range of the Park, considered the best spot for sighting animals. At the end of the safari, a hearty breakfast awaits us at a resort.
After breakfast, it’s back to the forest, this time in open jeeps to explore the western range of the park.
We return to our cruise ship for lunch and take the rest of the afternoon to rest and recover from the morning’s exertions.
In the evening, we sail on to the famous Biswanath Ghat and visit the sacred Shiva Dol. After walking around the village, taking in the sights and sounds of rural life and women with their weaves, we return to the ship and retire for the night after dinner.

Day 5 (Dhansiri boat safari) (B, L, D)

Our cruise ship heads towards Dhansiri Mukh, the confluence of the Brahmaputra and Dhansiri Rivers and drop anchor at a secluded island.
We sail on towards the Eastern Range of Kaziranga for a Boat Safari. On the two-hour long safari you can spot a variety of bio-life including roof turtles, otters, lizards, herons, serpent eagles as well as bigger animals like elephants, rhinos and water buffaloes.
This evening we enjoy the Chef’s cooking demonstration and sample the snacks followed by a leisurely evening on a deserted island with bonfire.

Day 6 (Majuli Island - visit to Mishing village) (B, L, D)

Today, our destination is the Island of Majuli, said to be the largest river island in the world. Majuli is also considered the seat of neo-Vaishnavite culture in Assam. We will visit the satras and the dormitories for the monks who live here.
We will also visit a tribal village inhabited by the Mishing community. The Mishing are excellent weavers and a visit to their village brings you in contact with men and women practising their traditional crafts of weaving, mask making and pottery.
Return to the ship in the evening where you will learn of the fascinating history of the neo Vaishnavite culture and the origin of the tribes. The day ends with an elaborate Assamese feast at dinner.

Day 7 (Sivasagar - lunch at tea estate - farewell dinner on board) (B, L, D)

Have an early breakfast and set out for a day trip to Sivasagar, the ancient capital of the Ahom dynasty. The Ahoms ruled most of northeast for 600 years between 1228- 1826 CE and remain the longest unbroken dynasty in the history of India. Sivasagar literally translates to ‘ocean of Shiva’. The name is apt as the town is built around a massive man-made water tank.
Visit the Talatal Ghar and Rang Ghar here and be regaled by the history of the place. Talatal Ghar was initially built as a base camp for the Ahom army. It has three underground floors that remain closed to the public and four floors above. Talatal Ghar like much of Ahom structures resembles Mughal architecture. It includes an octagonal temple and large open terrace. Recent excavations by ASI (Archaeological Survey of India) have discovered more wooden structures and logs at the site.
Rang Ghar on the other hand was the royal sports pavilion where Ahom kings would watch traditional games like buffalo and elephant fights.
From Sivasagar, we make our way to a nearby tea estate for traditional Assamese lunch with the Tea-estate family. We spend sometime for a leisurely stroll of the lawns as we sip our beverages and indulge in tea tasting.
Return to the ship by evening and celebrate your last night on board with a sumptuous feast of ‘Paro Manxho’ or pigeon meat, ‘Aloo Pitika’, mashed potatoes seasoned with mustard oil, coriander and onion and ‘Ou Khatta’, a sweet and sour chutney made from elephant apple (‘ou’) and jaggery.

Day 8 (Disembark - departure from Jorhat) (B, -, -)

Enjoy your last session of yoga/meditation on deck and then proceed to breakfast. If you fancy a walk on the swamps to catch sight of the birds, carry a binocular along and make the most of it.
We disembark and drive to Jorhat Airport where the trip ends.

7N/8D Cruise the Brahmaputra

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